The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-21
cIRcUMsrANr1AL EvIDENcE.
A Visit to Michael Madison's Grave Re.
calls Celebrated California Execu-


Cemetery Weeds grow in tangled con
fusion about 1t and well-nigh hide it from
the view of the passer-by. IF, however, the
passer-by is anyway curious and pushes the
weeds and wild flowers aside letters can be
distinguished on the age-stained stone
They form the following inscrip-
ton: Michael Madison, born 1925
died 1852. In these brief words there is
nothing to indicate anything other than
Michael Madison lived and died like thou
sands Of other human beings Yet tha III
scription is the index to strange life his
tory, and there are many of the pioneers of
the early days who can remember Michael
Madison and the circumstances of his death
IL has never been written, and, therefore
is worthy of being recorded among the an
mails of the days when the State was in its
infancy, and the argonauts who crossed the
plains and the main to reach the golden
Shores were III full possession.
Michael Madison was native of New
Hampshire, and he came TO this State in
1851. As indicated by his birth, he was
young and was inbued with all the energy
and ambition of ardent youth He located
in Suffer county, not far from where the
original discovery of gold was made two
years before. AT that time Adams camp
was the head center of the gold seekers
in that section. 1t was thriving camp and
presented the usual typical phases of min
ing life. Young Madison staked out claim
and entered heartily into the work of trying
TO wash yellow fortune out of the dirt Of
the canon. He had not been engaged in
this occupation three days when another
stranger came to the camp. The new arri-
val was great OverGrOwn Irish lad with a
shock of red hair, and a rich brogue He
was endowed with fund of genuine mother
wit, which made him favorite with every
one in the camp within ten hours of his ar
rival. A warm friendship spranr IN be-
tween Madison and the young Irishman.
whose name was Burke. The result was
that Burke and Madison went into partner
ship in the latter's claim They Occupied
the same tent, and throughout the day
worked side by side. So time went on for
several months
1t was in the spring of 1852, and the two
miners prospered. Their claim was good
for several ounces day and gradually they
laid by sack or SO of dust. Burke was
fond of talking of his success, and he never
visited Doc Cie's saloon, the leading one of
the camp, but what he spoke of his 'dustn
laid by, and how he hoped, if prosperity
still smiled upon him, to take trip back TO
Ireland and bring out his sweet-heart-a
rosy-cheeked Irish giri-to take care of the
house he would build.
On the mornsng of April "a 1852, Madi-
son rushed down the main thoroughfare Of
the camp-there was only one thoroughfare
and i'll wild and excited tones cried
out that Burke had been murdered in the
night. The assassin had entered the tent
occupied by the two while he (Madison) was
away, and had murdered Burke and stolen
all the gold dust belonging to them. He
had also dragged Burke's body away There
was great excitement in a moment. An
investigation showed that in the main Mad
ison'S story was correct. A trail of blood
and the mark of footsteps were plainly
visible from the door of the tent of the two
partners. The trail was followed up and
was lost on the brink of a deep ravine near
camp. Madison was the chief mover
among the Investigators. Search was made
at the bottom of the ravine, but Burke's
body could not be found.
In the midst of the general confusion
One-eyed Mexican rushed up and furiously
cried out that Madison was the murderer of
his partner. His accusation was scoffed at,
as Madison was considered above suspicion.
Search him." cried the Mexican. II see
the two fight this morning, and he stab
other man and take the gold dust He's got
some in his pocket, and he hid some over in
the chapparal.n
The man spoke so earnestly that inquir-
ing glances were cast at Madison. Strangely
enough, his cheeks were blanched, and he
looked decidedly nervous
GSllJIeiil0u, Sdlu lnHulSOn, UnlS is a
grave charge to make against me- | know
you'll not believe 1 would wrong Burke.
The Mexican is right in one thing, about
the money. l have got part of our money
in my pocket and, at Burke's suggestion, /
hid some gold dust in the bushes over
Lhere.n
That's enough, Mike Madison" said big
Tom Jones, the acknowledged marshal of
the camp, who, on account of sundry little
differences which he had had over card
games with Madison, was no friend of his,
'Ill have to take you into custody unless
this mystery is cleared upn
And he placed Madison under arrest. The
one-eyed Mexican repeated his story, and
was so positive in his statements that q ma
lority of those who had been friends of
Madison actually began to think him guilty.
The gold dust was found where the Mexican
pointed it out. Slowly but surely the tide
OF popular sentiment went against Madi-
son. Courts in those pioneer days
We're not conducted on exactly the same
principle as are our departments at present.
There was mighty little ceremony in the i'm
parchment of jury or the selection of q
Judge. The open air was the court room.
Michael Madison was placed on trial for
The murder of his partner. Twelve good
men and true" were selected to act as jurors.
The One-eyed Mexican was the principal
witness He described the killing of Burke
as he claimed to have seen it. The men, he
said, had quarreled just outside of their tent,
and i'll a passion Madison stabbed his
friend What was done with the
body the Mexican did not know.
His broncho had run away and he
chased him. After catching the animal he
returned to camp just in time TO accuse
Madison of the crime of murder. Testi-
mony WAS also adduced to show that Madi-
son and his partner had quarreled on more
than one occasion. Little time was wasted
by the jury IN celebrating on the matter.
Madison's protestations of innocence were
not looked upon favorably. The verdict
was guilty, and that the prisoner be ''strung
up inside of twenty-four hours Justice
In those days was melted out in short order.
The same night the moon. as it came up
from behind the high Sierras, shed a ray Of
light through clump Of trees near Adams
camp and player with CHASTITY light upon
The cold, pale face that was dangling from
one Of the branches. The body was that of
Michael Madison. He had received, &C
cording to the idea OF Adams campites, his
duo for dastardly crime. Three days
after Michael Madison had expiated with
his life the crime of which he was accused,
q ragged, jadcd-looking man crawled along
the road leading TO Adams camp. He had
red hair, and his face was covered with an
unkempt red beard.
i, Jack Burke, by God" cried Doc Gle, as